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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is saddened by the deaths of three Zimbabwean brothers at Nuttaboy Mine in Namaqualand, who were killed on the weekend after a tunnel caved in on them while they were digging for diamonds.

This is one of countless such tragedies to occur in Namaqualand, due to government’s ongoing failure to formalise the small-mining industry.

While the DA does not condone lawlessness, we also cannot allow loss of life to occur unabated in the largely unregulated artisanal mining industry, despite years of empty promises to legalise and regulate artisanal mining in Namaqualand through the issuing of permits and land use.

In 2018, the former deputy minister of the relevant department, Godfrey Oliphant, promised that permits to small-scale miners in the region would be expedited to allow for a greater deal of protection. Artisanal miners are still waiting.

Over the years, the DA has submitted letters requesting interventions to the Minister of Mineral Resources, the Minister of Public Enterprises, local authorities, the MEC of COGHSTA and even the Premier, Dr Zamani Saul. But still, government is silent.

The situation is a ticking time bomb. Even more so now, given growing tensions amongst locals towards foreigners.

Government and the authorities need to plot a way forward that will not only help struggling miners to put bread on the table for their families in a safe and legal environment, but also ensure that small-mining is regulated to benefit the economy and not the illicit diamond industry.

The DA will again submit a letter to the National Minister of Mineral Resources, Gwede Mantashe. We will also request our colleagues in the National Council of Provinces to pursue this matter at a national level.

It is time to restore the lustre to diamond mining in the Northern Cape.

Issued by Dr Isak Fritz, MPL - DA Northern Cape Provincial Chairperson